Sausmarez Park Manor House

Stopped for lunch today in Sausmarez Park and took the opportunity to take a blip of this splendid house.

The house was built by Eli Bisson for the Le Marchants and was originally a much simpler shape.
The house later passed into the hands of the De Saumarez's before the States took ownership in 1938.
The Le Marchant family were rich wool merchants based in St Peter Port and had the house built as a "country residence".
Originally it was a straight forward 18th Century Georgian house with five windows along the top and four along the bottom and being rectangular.

The house's grounds welcomed the Antiques Roadshow in 2009

Following the marriage of Martha Le Marchant and Admiral James De Saumarez the house came into the De Saumarez family during which time the house was expanded to what can be seen now.
During this time as well, and specifically the time of Admiral De Saumarez's grandson, the estate around the house was also expanded to stretch as far as the beach at Grandes Rocques.

It was Admiral De Saumarez's grandson who also added some of the more exotic elements to the park inspired by his time as a diplomat in Tokyo.
Following the First World War the house was extended further as the structure that is now the cafe, was built - originally as a function hall, then a roller skating rink before the cafe it has become today.

In 1938 the house was brought by the States of Guernsey following the death of the then current Baron De Saumarez in 1937. During the Occupation the house was used as the administration centre for the project of building all the fortifications around Guernsey and following the war the house became a hostel and residential home opening in 1950.